St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-07

must turn out in ranks at this and all
other calls. Drill for an hour or more
follows soon after at time fixed by the
commanding officer. The ceremony of
guard mounting takes place at 8 O'Clock:
fatigue call comes next in order the
sick call which intervenes no being, of
course, a call for duty, when such men
consisting of the old guard and others
designated in turn perform the neceS-
sary fatigue and police duty of the post.
AT IL o'clock first Sergeant'S call is
sounded. when these functiOnaries re-
pair to the adjutant'S office for the per-
fecting of the rolls of the sergeant
major, thus enabling him to keep his
roster correctly, and also to receive such
information and instructions as may be
necessary concerning their troops, bat
terieS or companies. Dinner is at noon.
At an hour designated by the post COM
mander afternoon drill is sounded, when
the troops exercise in such maneuverS
as are prescribed. Dress parade usually
takes place just before sunset, and is so
timed that retreat is sounded just after
the ''trOOp beats off, during that cere-
mony. The flag is lowered at the last note
of retreat. Supper soon follows dress
parade. Tattoo roll call is at 9 O'Clock
and taps or lights out half an hour
later. While attendance at religious
ceremonies is not compulsory in the
army, many of the men attend divine
service at those posts, of which there
are thirty-four, that have chaplains, and
more observance is given to the day
than was the case in former years.
Men are detailed for guard duty with
such frequency as the strength of the
force at the post where they are sta
toned renders necessary. There are
three reliefs of prescribed number of
men, with one corporal to each relief
and one sergeant of the guard. Two
hours on one post and four hours off,
during the tour of twenty-fOur hours,
is the unvarying routine. Each sentinel
is instructed by the officer of the guard,
who is lieutenant. under authority of
the officer of the day Ito take charge
of this post and all government property
in view: salute all officers according to
rank; in case of fire, alarm the guard, !"
and such other orders as are deemed
necessary are given. The order is given
to the sentry on No. to Ito turn out
the guard for all general officers, the
commanding officer, the officer of the
day. and for all armed parties" Any
breach of discipline while on guard is
an aggravation of the Offense, and it
behOOYes the soldier to have his wits
about him and to attend strictly to duty
during his tour. Guard duty is, like
the reading of the Koran, an endless
task.
Our military posts are in many in
stances isolated communities in them
selves, and in many respects as different
from civilian settlements or villages as.
can well be imagined. There are post
schools, at which enlisted soldiers can,
if SO disposed, pick up a fair common
school education during one term of en-
liStment. The subject of compulsory
education in the army has been eX-
haustively discussed of late, and SO ac-
complished an officer as Brevet Major
General James B. Fry has given it as
his opinion that enlisted men should
not be compelled against their wills to
attend post schools. About ten wears
ago James A. Garfield and Robert
Schenck, while serving on the commit
tee on military affairs in the house of
representatives, prepared a clause in
the Revised Statutes, section 1,231,
which afterward became law, and
which is as follows:
Schools shall be established Mt all posts
garrisons. or permanent camps at which the
enlisted men may be instructed in the COM
mon English branches of education. and es-
pecially in the history of the United States:
and the secretary of war may detail such
officers and enlisted men as may be ncces-
sary to carry out this provision, etc.
School hours for soldiers are from half
an hour after retreat until tattoo roll